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One injured in police firing, life remains crippled in north Kashmir

One injured in police firing, life remains crippled in north Kashmir

Published: Monday, June 30, 2008, 16:41 [IST]

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Baramulla, Jun 30 (UNI) One person was injured when police opened fire to disperse demonstrators at Sheri on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road while life in north Kashmir remained crippled for the seventh day today due to a spontaneous strike against the transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

Official sources said people at Sheri took to the streets this afternoon protesting against the SASB and state government.

However, when the processionists reached near a police station, police stopped them and asked them to disperse. But when they demanded that they be allowed to move forward, police resorted to lathicharge.

The processionists later pelted stones and tried to attack the police station.

Sources said one person, Shamas Uddin, was injured when police opened fire. He was rushed to nearby hospital from where he was referred to Srinagar hospital in a critical condition.

Official sources said the police fired teargas shells and resorted to repeated lathicharge to disperse the demonstrators, who were also pelting stones on security forces and police personnel deployed at Khawaja Bagh.

A number of demonstrators, who were raising pro-freedom and anti-government slogans, were injured.

Shops and business establishments in the town and adjoining areas remained closed and traffic was off the road due to strike, though there was no call from any organisation.

Work in government offices, banks and other commercial establishments remained affected and all educational institutions wore a deserted look.

Reports of total shut down were also received from other major towns, including Sopore, Handwara, Bandipora, Kupwara, Pattan and other tehsil headquarters in the north Kashmir.